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The King will serve as Royal Patron of the newly established
independent charity.
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The Trust will focus on regenerating shared spaces that bring
people together.
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The charity will provide a lasting legacy for the late Queen,
who devoted so much of her life to recognising the importance
of service to others.
A new UK-wide independent charity, the Queen Elizabeth Trust, has
been established on the occasion of the centenary of Queen
Elizabeth II's birth to honour her lifelong commitment to public
service.
His Majesty The King has accepted the Royal Patronage of the
Trust, which will bring the late Queen's values to life for
present and future generations.
The Trust is one of three related memorial projects—alongside a
national memorial in St James's Park and a digital memorial—to
honour her legacy at local, national, and global levels. These
plans are being formally unveiled on Tuesday to mark what would
have been Queen Elizabeth II's hundredth birthday.
Inspired by the late Queen's stated belief that “everyone is our
neighbour”, the Trust will work hand in hand with communities,
providing funding and targeted support to restore and sustain
shared spaces at the heart of local life.
To ensure the Trust can have the widest positive impact, the
Government is providing a one-off £40 million endowment. This
provides the initial funding needed to support local projects of
public value and will act as a catalyst for future
fundraising.
Local projects could include the development and transformation
of underused buildings and green spaces as well as neighbourhood
hubs in communities across the UK. Funding will also help
communities ensure they have access to the skills and training
they require to deliver local events.
This contribution continues a long-standing tradition of
honouring the monarch through living memorials that make a real
difference in people's lives. Including the King George V Playing
Fields, established nearly a century ago, which protect public
open spaces and recreational grounds across the UK.
The Queen Elizabeth Trust will ensure Her late Majesty is
remembered for her unique ability to bring people together across
generations and from all walks of life.
Sir Damon Buffini, Chair of the Queen Elizabeth Trust, said:
“I'm honoured and excited to have been chosen as the founding
Chair of the Queen Elizabeth Trust to help guide its direction
from the start. This is a real chance to support communities
across the United Kingdom and bring shared spaces back to life:
places where people of all ages and backgrounds can meet,
connect, and belong.
“I've seen first-hand the difference these spaces can make,
creating opportunities, sparking connections, and giving people a
sense of pride in where they live. At a time when so many feel
disconnected, this work feels more important than ever.
“As an organisation, we're ambitious about what we can achieve,
and our goal is to significantly increase our impact by
attracting support from others. I'm looking forward to rolling up
my sleeves, listening and learning from communities, and seeing
what we can make happen.”
, Chair of the Queen Elizabeth
Memorial Committee, said:
“I hope this new charity will encourage people to remember the
life and service of the late Queen by recognising the importance
she attached to strengthening that sense of engagement and
belonging amongst local communities.”
The Trust is the result of the Queen Elizabeth Memorial
Committee's recommendation, following over two years of
engagement with diverse groups across the UK.
The focus of the Trust was shaped through extensive conversations
with community groups, charities, and leaders across the four
nations. These discussions brought together a diverse range of
perspectives from policymakers, government experts, and major
legacy programmes.
Further information on the funding criteria will be shared in the
coming months.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
The Queen Elizabeth Trust is an independent grant-making charity
created to honour the life and service of Queen Elizabeth. It
will work with communities across the UK to transform
community spaces that bring local people together across
generations and all walks of life.
Holmes, a member of the Queen
Elizabeth Memorial Committee, has also been appointed to the
board of the Queen Elizabeth Trust
The Trust is one of three projects commemorating the late Queen:
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The National Memorial: A physical landmark and gardens in St
James's Park.
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The Queen Elizabeth Trust: A charitable legacy for local
communities.
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The Digital Memorial: A tribute to her life and service.
